High Quality Music Education for Every Child
El Sistema USA® works to ensure every child has access to high-quality music education that celebrates their voice and potential, by supporting a national network of organizations & educators.
Latest News
We invite you to download the 2024 New Year Report to view all our accomplishments and work completed in FY 2024!
Polaris Dawn Crewmember Sarah Gillis, a Classically Trained Violinist and Astronaut, Performs from Space with…
Equity Arc and El Sistema USA Announce Partnership to Break Barriers and Create Access in…
Upcoming Events
Fortissima at the Colburn School empowers young women from underrepresented minorities in classical music with online leadership training, mentorship, and a weeklong residency. Participants gain personalized artistic support, workshops, and performance opportunities, inspiring careers in classical music.
The Common Application for Summer Study, developed in partnership with Equity Arc and several top summer programs, allows eligible students to apply to multiple partner programs through a streamlined application and audition process. Each partner program offers at least one full-tuition fellowship, with additional financial support available based on resources. Students can autofill their application for other programs they are eligible for, and Equity Arc covers the application fee for all eligible students.
The J.W. Pepper 150th Anniversary Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students passionate about music education transitioning to college. Administered by Scholarship America®, it selects recipients based on eligibility and criteria to support their educational journey.
Scaffolding for Success: Strategies for Support for Students with Special Abilities February 3 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This webinar offers strategies for low-income music students to manage higher education expenses, including budgeting, cost-saving, student loans, and loan forgiveness. Ideal for students, families, instructors, and program managers seeking guidance to navigate financial aid and minimize debt effectively.
The YOLA National Festival provides young musicians with free high-level orchestral training, chamber music, and performances under world-renowned conductors. Travel, lodging, meals, and programming are included. Participants join either the Symphony or Overture Orchestra based on age and skill.
THE EL SISTEMA USA MODEL
Our work draws inspiration from the music education model of El Sistema, founded in Venezuela by Jose Antonio Abreu and championed by conductor Gustavo Dudamel. It uses music instruction to enhance the lives of young people in under-resourced communities. El Sistema USA believes that learning music can set students on a path of self-discovery and improve life skills such as patience, persistence, and confidence.
Donate to El Sistema USA today
Your generous gift will allow us to connect and build the field of equity-based music programs that ensure access to high-quality music education. Support programs like our youth leadership cohort to prepare the next generation of leaders, national data collection initiative to measure program impact on students, or our national symposium which strengthens organizational and field capacity.
Join El Sistema USA
Are you an equity-based music program providing high-quality programming to your community?
ESUSA provides our members with resources to help organizations, administrators, teachers, and students thrive. This includes benchmarking reports, data collection, networking events, webinars, consulting, student leadership programming, and student seminarios. Our members include community music schools, youth orchestras, symphony orchestras, individuals, and more.
